Harper government admits it erred in posting videos showing special forces

The Harper government is admitting it erred in posting two videos on the prime minister’s personal online PR channel, 24 Seven, that identified Canadian special forces in Iraq and Kuwait.

“The videos were removed. That was the right thing to do…we take the security of our military personnel very seriously, especially in military theatre,” Public Safety minister Steven Blaney told reporters.

“We regret this error, these images have been reviewed and they won’t be re-posted,” said Bezan.

The opposition agreed that, by posting the images, Harper was putting public relations before the safety of special forces.

Liberal MP Marc Garneau said it’s “unbelievable” that Harper would include images of special forces in his videos, especially after Defence Minister Jason Kenney was criticized for posting images of the late Sgt. Andrew Doiron’s ramp ceremony in Erbil, Iraq, which also exposed special forces.

“They just want to promote themselves at any cost – and that’s at the expense of our Canadian Armed Forces,” said Garneau.

Harris said that Harper is using his trip as part of his campaign and for public relations, and that it’s “not acceptable.”

The day after Kenney shared those ramp photos, Harper — under attack in question period — defended his minister by saying that “he’s new in the portfolio.”

Yet just two months later, Harper posted photos to Twitter from his weekend trip to Iraq and Kuwait — including images of Canadian Forces members.

He put those soldiers lives at risk for a photo op. He’s made the lives of Vets harder. What has Harper done that benefits anyone but the rich? The rich should be embarrassed to take his handouts because the handouts are on the backs of the poor, EI surplus (and how many people didn’t qualify yet paid dues) and on and on and on. What a guy you right wing nutbars gave us eh?

Harper made his first error in showing up at all to play big boy soldier games, equipped as usual with a pricey personal photographer and other comms people in order to make hay out of war. Personal gain and personal power at all costs is Steve’s credo.

If his supporters were honest, they would admit they’d be bringing out the filetting knives if Mulcair or Trudeau did such a thing.